Pipe coupling

ABSTRACT

A pipe coupling for connecting pipes of the same or different diameters. The coupling has a barrel sleeve with clamping rings on each end. The clamping rings each carry nested seals. An inner portion of each nested seal may be removed so as to adapt the clamping ring to different pipe diameters. Each clamping ring is hinged, but becomes iron-bound upon tightening, so that each ring eventually bends as a unitary ring member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention disclosed here relates to a pipe coupling. The pipecoupling is adapted to join two large pipes together via a barrel sleevethat has clamping rings on each end. The clamping rings have sealsadapted to join pipes having the same diameter or different diameters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many different types of pipe couplings and connectors forjoining water, sewage, gas, and similar pipes. An example of one suchcoupling is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,576. The design disclosedhere provides an alternative to the '576 design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed here is an improved pipe coupling. The pipecoupling includes a cylindrical, barrel-shaped sleeve portion that hascircumferential flanges at each end. The circumferential flanges faceoutwardly relative to the sleeve. Connected to each circumferentialflange is a clamping ring.

In preferred form, the clamping rings are identical in construction.Each clamping ring carries a nested seal. Each clamping ring may consistof two separate portions, or halves, that are hinged together at thebottom, although variations are possible.

The hinge creates a pivot point so that each half of the clamping ring(or clamping ring portion) is movable toward and away from the otherone. However, the clamping ring portions are structurally configured sothat they eventually become iron-bound near the pivot point at a certainrotational point, as the clamping ring portions move toward each otherduring closing or tightening. The iron-bounding effect causes theclamping ring portions to eventually function as a “unitary” ringinstead of two separate freely-moving halves.

As an alternative, it may be possible to use the same concept in aclamping ring having several segments. In this instance, one segment orportion swings relative to another via a pivoting or similar connection.The two portions become iron-bound at a certain inward swing point.

As indicated above, for the two-part arrangement, each half of theclamping ring has an ear adapted to connect to a tightening bolt. Theears of each clamping ring portion are pulled together by the tighteningbolt in a conventional manner. However, the ears are integrated with thestructure of the clamping ring portions, as opposed to being separatelywelded or the like.

Each clamping ring carries a nested seal. According to the inventiondisclosed here, the nested seal includes an inner circumferential sealpart that is separately nested within an outer circumferential sealpart. The combination of these two seal parts creates an inwardlydirected face that presses against an outwardly directed face of thecorresponding barrel sleeve's circumferential flange.

The nested seal also has a sloping outer surface received within theclamping ring. The slope on the surface causes the seal to be urgedtoward the barrel sleeve's circumferential flange as the clamping ringis tightened.

The inner part of the nested seal has a plurality of outer peripheralridges that mate with a corresponding plurality of inner peripheralgrooves on the inside of the outer part of the seal. This permits theinner part to be removed easily from the outer part and allows theclamping rings to be adjusted to pipes of varying diameters.

The outer part of the seal also has an annular groove that faces thebarrel sleeve's flange. The diameter of the annular groove is greaterthan the inner diameter of the barrel sleeve's flange, when in anon-compressed state. However, when the clamping ring is tightened aboutthe circumferential flange on the sleeve, the seal is compressed downsuch that the annular groove becomes exposed to the interior diameter ofthe pipe.

Last, the cylindrical, barrel-shaped sleeve portion carries a handle.The sleeve is preferably designed to couple together the ends of twopipes having interior diameters within and including four to twelveinches. The handle allows for the pipe coupling to be physicallymanipulated (e.g., turned or held in position) much easier when it isused to couple pipes.

The features summarized above, including how they interact with eachother, are further described below and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numerals and letters refer to like partsthroughout the various views, unless indicated otherwise, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe coupling constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pipe coupling shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the pipe coupling shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of two clamping rings illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, with the clamping ring and related seal structure removedfrom the barrel sleeve portion of the pipe coupling;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, but reveals underlying nested seal andbacking armor structure;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 4, but with the nested seal removed;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of the nested seal, and shows a backing armorplate on an outer surface of the seal;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7, taken at a different angle, and shows thebacking armor plate removed;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial view like FIG. 8, but taken at a different angle,and shows only the outer circumferential portion of the nested seal,with the inner circumferential portion having been removed;

FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of the outer circumferential portion of theseal;

FIG. 11 is a pictorial view like FIG. 4, but shows the innercircumferential portion of the seal removed from the outer one;

FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11, but with the seal removed for thepurpose of illustrating how the clamping ring is shaped to receive thenested seal;

FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG. 11 and shows the nested seal in positionwithin the clamping ring;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of one clamping ring portion and shows thehinge part of a releasable pin and hinge connection that permits twoseparate clamp ring portions to rotate relative to each other;

FIG. 15 is a view like FIG. 14, but shows the pin portion;

FIG. 16 is a pictorial view of the cylindrical barrel sleeve portion ofthe pipe coupling;

FIG. 17 is a frontal view of an alternative embodiment of a clampingring that functions like the clamping ring illustrated in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 18 is a view like FIG. 17, but is taken looking at the oppositeside of the clamping ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, shown generally at10 is a pipe coupling constructed in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention. The coupling 10 consists of a cylindrical,barrel-shaped sleeve 12.

Referring briefly to FIG. 16, the barrel-shaped sleeve 12 has a carryinghandle 14. Each end of the barrel-shaped sleeve 12 terminates in acircumferential flange 16, 18. Each flange 16, 18 presents an outwardlyfacing surface 20 (see FIG. 16). As can be seen in FIG. 2, the barrelsleeve 12 converges at 22, 24, respectively, toward each circumferentialflange 16, 18 (not shown in FIG. 2).

In preferred form, and referring back to FIG. 1, a clamping ring(indicated generally at 26, 28) is connected to each circumferentialflange 16, 18 on the sleeve 12. FIG. 3 is an endwise view of the pipecoupling 10 and shows only clamping ring 26. In the alternative viewprovided by FIG. 4, the clamping ring 26 is shown alone and disconnectedfrom the pipe coupling 10.

In the embodiment described here, each clamping ring 26, 28 isidentical. It is to be appreciated, however, that variations wouldinvolve making one clamping ring larger or smaller relative to theother. It might also be possible to use the clamping ring and sealdesign disclosed here in other kinds of pipe coupling applications.Nevertheless, because clamping rings 26, 28 are identical in thedrawings, only one clamping ring 26 will be described.

The clamping ring 26 is made of two separate portions, or halves 30, 32.These portions are connected together at a pivot point 34 (see, e.g.FIG. 3). The pivot point 34 allows each part 30, 32 of the clamping ring26 to open and/or close at the top as a bolt structure 36 (describedlater below) is respectively loosened or tightened.

The pivotal connection 34 is created by the structure illustrated inFIGS. 14 and 15. These figures are views that depict the bottom side ofclamping ring 26. One portion or half 30 of the clamping ring 26 has ahinge piece 38. The hinge piece 38 has forked hooks 40, 42 that capturea pin 44 on the bottom of the other clamping ring part 32. The hooks 40,42 are easy to connect and disconnect to and from the pin 44 forcompletely separating the two halves, if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, but first to FIG. 6, the clamping ring26 is compressed around the barrel sleeve's circular flange 16 by thebolt structure 36. The bolt structure design is conventional. Itincludes a bolt head 46 that is captured by a bolt guide 48. The boltguide 48 is curved and rests against a complementary curved surface 50that is part of a clamping ring ear 52 (see FIG. 3). The ear 52 is madefrom the same piece of material (metal) that makes up the clamping ringportion 26. In other words, the ear 52 is structurally integrated orintegrated with the structure of the clamping ring portion.

The other end of the bolt structure 36 has a nut 54 threaded onto theshaft 56 of bolt structure 36. The nut 54 similarly rests against amirror bolt guide 58. Similar to the previous description, bolt guide 58rests against a curved surface 60 on clamp ear 61.

Referring once again to FIG. 4, the clamping ring 26 carries a nestedseal, indicated generally at 62. The seal 62 is called “nested” becauseit has an outer circumferential seal part 64 (see FIG. 9) and an innercircumferential seal part 66 (see FIG. 10).

The inner seal 66 has a plurality of outer peripheral ridges 68, 70.These ridges mate with or fit within corresponding inner peripheralgrooves 72, 74 on an inner surface 76 of the outer seal 64 part (seeFIGS. 9 and 10). The arrangement of peripheral ridges 68, 70 and grooves72, 74 help retain the inner seal 66 in position within the outer seal64 thus creating the desired “nested” configuration.

The nested combination created by the inner and outer seal parts 66, 64can be used to define an adjustable seal for capturing the end of pipeshaving variations in outer diameter. If desired, the inner seal 66 canbe easily removed from the outer one 64, in the field, thereby adaptingthe clamp ring 26 to a larger pipe. The two seals 66, 64 are not joinedtogether via an adhesive or other bonding agent. They exist as separatepieces. It is possible to reinstall the inner circumferential seal part66, if desired.

Referring now to FIG. 12, which shows the clamping ring part 30 withoutthe nested seal 62, it can be seen that the clamping ring is generallyconventional in cross section, except as described below. The clampingring has an inner lip 77 that overlaps the barrel sleeve'scircumferential flange 16 (not shown in FIG. 12). In other words, thecircumferential flange rests within the space indicated by arrow 78 inFIG. 12. As would be apparent, removing the nut 54 from the end of thebolt structure 36 allows the clamping ring 26 to be opened sufficientlyso that the clamping ring can be placed around the circumferentialflange 16.

Outwardly of space 78 is a unique sloped surface 80 in which the nestedseal 62 rests. The slope of surface 80 is convergent outwardly (towardthe end of the pipe coupling 10). As the bolt structure 36 is tightened,it pulls clamp ears 52, 61 toward each other, thus compressing thenested seal 62. At the same time, the compression action also urges thesloped surface 80 of the clamping ring against the corresponding surface(also sloped) 82 of the nested seal (see FIG. 9). This, in turn, urgesthe seal 62 toward the circumferential flange 16.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the inwardly facing surface of the seal,indicated generally by arrow 84, is further urged or pressed against theoutwardly facing surface 20 of the sleeve's circumferential flange (seeFIG. 16). This collectively enhances sealing capability because not onlyis the nested seal 62 compressed around the outside diameter of thepipe, but it is also compressed axially into and against thebarrel-sleeve's circumferential flange.

Next, the outer part 64 of seal 62 has an annular groove 86 that facesthe barrel sleeve 12. When the clamping ring 26 is placed on itsrespective flange, and before tightening of the bolt structure 36, theseal 62 is in a non-compressed state. In this condition, the diameter ofthe annular groove 86 is preferably greater than the inner diameter ofthe barrel sleeve 12. When compressed, however, the annular groove 86becomes likewise compressed so that its diameter becomes exposed to theinside of the barrel sleeve 12. This enables fluid pressure to cause onepart of the seal to slide upon itself. It is believed this may improveupon seal efficiency.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is a backing armor piece 88 that fits over aregion 90 (shown in FIG. 11) in outer seal part 64. The armor piece 88rests underneath clamping ring ears 52, 62 and spans the distance or gapbetween the ears. FIG. 8 shows where the armor piece 88 normally restson the seal. As the bolt structure 36 is tightened, the armor pieceserves to compress the seal 62 and prevents the seal from bulging in theregion where the bolt structure 36 is located.

Directing attention now to the bottom of FIG. 4, as was described above,the clamping ring 26 consists of two separate parts 30, 32. These parts30, 32 may swing or move toward and away from each other because theyare connected at pivot point 34.

As is apparent from the above description, the ears 52, 62 may openrelative to each other. When this happens, it creates a space or gap atthe location indicated generally by arrow 92 in FIGS. 3 and 4. In thatcircumstance, the parts 30, 32 of the clamping ring 26 are “pivoting.”As the clamping ring 26 is tightened, however, the edges 94, 96 of eachrespective clamping ring part 30, 32 come into abutting contact witheach other at reinforced region 33 (see FIG. 6) and constrain or stopfurther free-pivoting movement. At that particular point, becauseclamping rings 30, 32 cease moving freely, further clamp tightening isaccomplished by bending within the integrated structure of parts 30, 32.In other words, the clamping ring 26 then begins to function as thoughit is a “unitary” ring made of a single piece.

Finally, an alternative embodiment of clamping ring 26 is illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18. Directing attention there, the alternative embodimentconsists of a ring that is segmented into three parts 98, 100, 102. Eachpart is connected together at 104, 106 by the same type of hook and pinconnection described earlier. These connections create pivot points thatenable ring segments 98, 100, 102 to swing freely relative to each otherwhen the clamping ring 26 is unbolted. However, as one separate portionswings relative to the other in a closing motion, the two portionseventually become iron-bound in the same manner as described above. Thisoccurs at the locations indicated at 108 and 110, respectively. Theiron-binding or bounding effect enables a three-segment ring to functionas a single unitary ring at a certain tightening point. The advantage tothis design is that the compressive forces created by the ring aredistributed more evenly. Likewise, the nested seal 62 receivesevened-out compression around its circumference.

The foregoing is not intended to limit the scope of patent coverage. Thescope of patent coverage is intended to be limited by the patent claims,the interpretation of which is to be made in accordance with theestablished doctrines of patent claim interpretation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pipe coupling, comprising: a cylindrical barrelsleeve having at least one circumferential flange with an inner and anouter diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to close around saidcircumferential flange, said clamping ring including first and secondseparate clamping ring portions that are releasably connected togetherat a pivot point in a manner so that one clamping ring portion may swingtoward and away from the other to respectively close and open saidclamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped to retain anannularly-shaped seal outward of said circumferential flange when saidring portions are connected together, each clamping ring portion havinga region adjacent to said pivot point, the regions of said clamping ringportions pressing against each other when said clamping ring portionsclose to a bound position so as to cause said first and second separateclamping ring portions to function as a unitary structural member thatwill bend inwardly toward the seal as the clamping ring portions closepast the bound position to thereby clamp said seal around the end of apipe; and an exterior handle connected to a central portion of saidcylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position ofsaid pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use.
 2. The pipecoupling of claim 1, further comprising an annularly-shaped sealretained within said clamping ring portions, wherein the seal includesan annular groove that faces the circumferential flange of the barrelsleeve, a diameter of the annular groove being greater than the innerdiameter of the circumferential flange, when the seal is in anon-compressed condition, and the diameter of the annular groove beinglesser than the inner diameter of circumferential flange when the sealis in a compressed condition.
 3. The pipe coupling of claim 1, furthercomprising an annularly-shaped seal retained within said clamping ringportions, wherein the seal includes an inwardly directed face thatpresses against the circumferential flange of the barrel sleeve, and theseal includes a top surface that slopes radially inwardly in a directionextending away from the circumferential flange, the top surface pressingagainst a corresponding inner surface of the clamping ring.
 4. The pipecoupling of claim 1, further comprising an annularly-shaped sealretained within said clamping ring portions, wherein the seal is anested seal having a separate inner circumferential seal removablynested within an outer circumferential seal.
 5. A pipe coupling,comprising: a sleeve including at least one circumferential flange withan inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to closearound said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including firstand second separate clamping ring portions, the first and secondclamping ring portions each including a curved body that extends from abolt engagement portion to a coupling portion, the first and secondclamping ring portions releasably connected together at the couplingportions of the first and second clamping ring portions so that, in areleased state, the first clamping ring portion is movable towards andaway from the second clamping ring portion to respectively close andopen said clamping ring, said clamping ring portions being shaped toretain an annularly-shaped seal when said ring portions are connectedtogether, the first and second clamping rings being arranged so that, ina fixed state, the bolt engagement portions of the first and secondclamping ring portions are spaced apart from each other and the couplingportions of the first and second clamping ring portions are in abuttingcontact with each other to constrain relative movement of the couplingportions of the first and second clamping ring portions but to allowrelative movement of the bolt engagement portions of the first andsecond clamping ring portions thereby causing said first and secondseparate clamping ring portions to function as a unitary structuralmember that will bend inwardly toward the seal to thereby clamp saidseal around the end of a pipe.
 6. The pipe coupling of claim 5, furthercomprising an exterior handle connected to a central portion of saidcylindrical barrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position ofsaid pipe coupling when said pipe coupling is put into use.
 7. The pipecoupling of claim 5, further comprising an annularly-shaped sealretained within said clamping ring portions, wherein the seal is anested seal having a separate inner circumferential seal removablynested within an outer circumferential seal.
 8. A pipe coupling,comprising: a sleeve including at least one circumferential flange withan inner and an outer diameter; a clamping ring that is adapted to closearound said circumferential flange, said clamping ring including acurved body with two opposing bolt engagement portions that are spacedapart from each other, said clamping ring being shaped to retain anannularly-shaped seal, the clamping ring being arranged around thecircumferential flange of the sleeve so that drawing the two opposingbolt engagement portions towards each other bends the clamping ringinwardly to thereby clamp said seal around the end of a pipe; and anexterior handle connected to a central portion of said cylindricalbarrel sleeve, for carrying and adjusting the position of said pipecoupling when said pipe coupling is put into use.
 9. The pipe couplingof claim 8, further comprising an annularly-shaped seal retained withinsaid clamping ring portions, wherein the seal is a nested seal having aseparate inner circumferential seal removably nested within an outercircumferential seal.
 10. A pipe coupling, comprising: a hollow sleeveincluding an opening on a first end, the sleeve including a flange thatextends around the opening; a plurality of separate and distinct, curvedclamping components that, when fully assembled, form a clamping ringthat functions as a single, unitary component, the clamping ring beingstructured and dimensioned to house an annular seal, the clamping ringincluding a curved body that terminates in two spaced apart clampreceptacles, the two clamp receptacles arranged to jointly receive acoupling mechanism that includes a bolt that, when tightened, draws thetwo clamping receptacles towards each other to move the clamping ringfrom a relaxed state to a tightened state, the clamping ring structuredand dimensioned so that, in the relaxed state, the clamping ring extendsaround the flange and the two clamp receptacles are spaced apart, and sothat, in the tightened state, the two clamp receptacles are drawntowards each other but remain spaced apart and the curved body of theclamping ring bends to bring the annular sealing ring into tight sealingcontact with a pipe inserted into the sleeve.
 11. The pipe coupling ofclaim 10, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of separate anddistinct clamping components are connected by hinged connections. 12.The pipe coupling of claim 11, wherein the clamping ring is fullyassembled when the plurality of separate and distinct components arebrought into abutting contact with each other to thereby constrainfree-pivoting movement at the hinged connections.
 13. The pipe couplingof claim 10, wherein the plurality of separate and distinct, curvedclamping components are two separate portions.
 14. The pipe coupling ofclaim 13, wherein the two separate portions are hinged together.
 15. Thepipe coupling of claim 14, wherein the clamping ring is fully assembledwhen the two separate portions are rotated to a point where the twoseparate portions become iron bound and can no longer swing freelyrelative to each other as two separate components but instead functionas a single, unitary component.
 16. The pipe coupling of claim 10,wherein the plurality of separate and distinct, curved clampingcomponents are three ring segments.
 17. The pipe coupling of claim 10,further comprising an annular seal sized to fit within the fullyassemble clamping ring.
 18. The pipe coupling of claim 17, wherein theannular seal includes an inner seal separably nested within an outerseal.
 19. The pipe coupling of claim 10, further comprising a handlecoupled to the sleeve, the handle arranged on the sleeve to facilitatephysically manipulation of the sleeve when the sleeve is used to couplepipes together.
 20. A pipe coupling, comprising: a hollow sleeveincluding an opening on a first end, the sleeve including a flange thatextends around the opening; a clamping ring that includes a curved bodythat terminates in two spaced apart clamp receptacles, the clamping ringbeing structured and dimensioned to house an annular seal, the two clampreceptacles arranged to receive a coupling mechanism that includes abolt that, when tightened, draws the two clamping receptacles towardseach other to move the clamping ring from a relaxed state to a tightenedstate, the clamping ring structured and dimensioned so that, in therelaxed state, the clamping ring extends around the flange and the twoclamp receptacles are spaced apart, and so that, in the tightened state,the two clamp receptacles are drawn towards each other but remain spacedapart and the curved body of the clamping ring bends to bring theannular ring into tight sealing contact with a pipe inserted into thesleeve; and a handle coupled to the sleeve, the handle arranged on thesleeve to facilitate physically manipulation of the sleeve when thesleeve is used to couple pipes together.
 21. The pipe coupling of claim20, wherein the handle is arranged to extend lengthwise along thesleeve.
 22. The pipe coupling of claim 20, wherein the clamping ring isarranged on the sleeve such that handle is positioned in line with theclamping mechanism between the ears of the clamp ring.
 23. The pipecoupling of claim 20, further comprising an annular seal sized to fitwithin the fully assemble clamping ring.
 24. The pipe coupling of claim20, wherein the annular seal includes an inner seal separably nestedwithin an outer seal.